Chicago Cop Charged with DUI Deaths of Two Men is Released on $500,000 Bail
Chicago Police Officer Joseph Frugoli appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing over Illinois drunk driving criminal charges case involving the deaths of two young men, Fausto Manzera, 21, and Andrew Cazares, 23. Frugoli is charged with killing them in a drunk driving accident on early Friday morning while he was off-duty.
The two men had reportedly stopped their vehicle on the side of the road because of car trouble when they were rear-ended from the back by a Lexus SUV driven by Frugoli. The impact of the collision caused their car to explode.
The off-duty Chicago cop, who was injured in the crash, walked away from the accident site but was later apprehended by police. He has been charged with two counts of reckless homicide, one count of leaving the crash scene, and one count of driving under the influence. Prosecutors say that his BAC was reportedly three times above the legal limit. The 41-year-old Chicago cop, an 18-year-old veteran, has been relieved of his duties.
Yesterday, family members of the two Chicago car crash victims expressed dismay after Frugoli was released on $500,000 bail—an amount they consider to be small considering that two men died.
According to records, this is not the first Illinois auto accident that Frugoli has been involved in. In a January 2005 Chicago car accident also on the Dan Ryan, he reportedly rear-ended another vehicle. Recently, a Cook County judge ordered him to pay over $7,000 for an Illinois civil lawsuit related to the accident that was filed against him.
In January 2008, Frugoli reportedly hit a police vehicle and was cited for ignoring a stop sign (that ticket was dismissed). In 1990, he received a citation for driving 80 mph in a 50 mph zone. That ticket was also dismissed.
DUI cop back in court, Chicago Sun-Times, April 13, 2009
Dan Ryan crash: Off-duty cop held in collision that killed, Chicago Tribune, April 11, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Penalties for a DUI Conviction, Cyberdrive Illinois
Contact our Chicago car accident law firm today.
